Justin Williams scored a tiebreaking goal 1:38 into the final period, and Sebastian Aho added two goals later in the third to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
Morgan Geekie and Nino Niederreiter also scored for Carolina, which extended its winning streak to three games and pulled even with Columbus for the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. The New York Islanders had a chance to join that tie as well when they faced Vancouver later Tuesday night.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Christoffer Ehn scored for the Red Wings, who had their modest two-game winning streak snapped.
Detroit Red Wings center Christoffer Ehn (70) scores past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Detroit. (AP PhotoDuane Burleson)
Williams has scored in five straight games. With the Hurricanes on a power play, Andrei Svechnikov sent a pass from behind the net and Williams slammed it past goalie Jonathan Bernier to put Carolina up 3-2.
The Hurricanes added a short-handed goal later in the third on a breakaway by Aho. Then he completed the scoring with Carolina's third power-play goal of the night.
Petr Mrazek, who had been dealing with a concussion, played in goal for Carolina for the first time since Feb. 22. He made 23 saves against his former team.
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) celebrates his second-period goal in front of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Alex Biega (3) during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Detroit. (AP PhotoDuane Burleson)
Geekie had two goals and an assist in his NHL debut at Pittsburgh on Sunday. He opened the scoring in the first period Tuesday, but Bertuzzi tied it.
Niederreiter and Ehn traded goals in the second.
NOTES: Detroit had a chance to match its longest winning streak of the season. The Red Wings had a three-game run from Nov. 8-12. ... Detroit's Luke Glendening played his 500th game. ... Svechnikov appeared to score in the third, but the goal was overturned after an offside review. He is two points shy of 100 for his career.
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) tries to get to the puck in front of Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Detroit. (AP PhotoDuane Burleson)
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: At New Jersey on Thursday night.
Red Wings: At Washington on Thursday night.
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